Drum News

Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. and Hal Leonard Corp. are proud to announce that Hal Leonard has been named the exclusive music retail distributor of Modern Drummer magazine, effective June 1, 2010. This breakthrough brings together the world's leading drum publication and the world's leading print music publisher/distributor and will benefit not only drum dealers, teachers, and manufacturers but drummers and drumming as well.

"Whether creating and retaining players or raising the level of the art, the growth of drumming is tied to education," explains Modern Drummer's associate publisher, Tracy Kearns. "In terms of educational media, today's music magazines have become just as important as books, CDs, and DVDs and just as essential in sustaining that growth. By increasing the availability of our print and digital editions through Hal Leonard-and by providing more teachers and students with access to our editorial analysis, educational content, and lesson material from a variety of authors, artists, eras, and styles-we can do more than merely sustain the growth of drummers and drumming; we can accelerate it."

Since better musicians also make better customers, the expansion of Modern Drummer's distribution presents dealers, manufacturers, and suppliers with an opportunity for commercial as well as educational development. Modern Drummer has proven to be an excellent profit center for dealers, with its small footprint, high margin, fast turnover, and repeat business, while, in what remains a challenging economic climate, companies that advertise in Modern Drummer continue to reach the widest, most qualified audience of drummers on the planet.

Due to Hal Leonard's centrally located warehouse and expert sales staff, the new distribution arrangement will provide current Modern Drummer dealers with more efficient delivery plus a higher level of customer service and support, not to mention one-stop sales of all Modern Drummer publications, including the monthly magazine, books, DVDs, and future print and electronic media projects. In addition, linking Modern Drummer's print and digital editions with Hal Leonard's vast network of physical and online music retailers will undoubtedly increase what is already the largest circulation of all drum magazines (larger than that of all other U.S. drum magazines combined) by expanding the availability of the magazine to thousands of new dealers and readers.

Hal Leonard entered the music magazine distribution market in October of 2009, distributing Premier Guitar and Guitar Edge-regarded as the best guitar gear and instructional magazines, respectively-to its worldwide network of more than 10,000 retailers. Under the company's greener, more efficient distribution model, dealers no longer have to return covers and destroy magazines that don't sell. Instead, the products are theirs to use however they please, in connection with local music education initiatives, for instance.

David Jahnke, vice president of national sales for Hal Leonard, comments on the new agreement, "Modern Drummer is among the music industry's most popular and respected periodicals. Now retailers can stock it for their stores as part of their regular Hal Leonard orders, without the hassle of having to go through a separate distributor."

He continues, "Magazines are a perfect, low-price item to keep people coming back to music stores. We're eager to expand our distribution to other leading magazines, to match the interests of our retailers and their customers."